Workshop-cum-consultative meet on “juvenile justice system” organised by Dimapur District Legal Services Authority (DDLSA) was held on Wednesday at conference hall, deputy commissioner office, Dimapur.
While delivering the keynote address, judicial magistrate, first class/juvenile justice board chairman, W.V Patton stressed on the importance of the public in playing big role when it came to juvenile crimes. She said that rehabilitation and restoration should be the primary focus when one could talk about juvenile cases.
She added that the times have changed and because corporal punishment does more harm than good, juveniles must be dealt with in such a way where their physical and psychological soundness should go undisturbed.
She further said that the public must act as support system for children who were in conflict with the law and society. Because Nagaland was a tribal state, the juvenile criminals were caught in between traditional laws and the judicial laws, she added. She also urged everyone to bear the responsibility of having one-to-one interactions with children and not blame the institutions, as it was “our” bounden duty as humans.
Presenting a talk on “POCSO Act/juvenile justice act”, legal aid counsel-cum-trainer (NSLSA), Esther K Aye laid emphasis on the duties of the juvenile justice board, the police, witnesses and public in general. She highlighted that the juvenile must be prevented, diverted, protected and reached out to from committing crimes. She added that the police had a very important role to play and that counselling of the juvenile must start from the police station itself and that, they must keep themselves away from heckling the child.
Earlier, the workshop was moderated by panel lawyer, DDLSA Zuchumpeni Ngullie. Panel lawyer, DDLSA Sentimenla provided short talk on “human trafficking/child labour”, DCPO, Pikato Muru gave a presentation on integrated child protection scheme (ICPS), while reports and grievances were shared by the stakeholders. Chief judicial magistrate/secretary, DDLSA Ajongba Imchen summed up the workshop-cum-meet.